Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has denied claims by the minority bloc that a proposed amendment to Senate rules on remote participation is connected to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Cayetano said the proposal concerns only the Senate’s rules, not the impeachment rules already adopted when the chamber formally convened as an impeachment court on May 18.
“Wala pong katotohanan na ‘yung amendment ng rule na ito ay nakaugnay sa amendment sa rule sa impeachment. Bakit po? Unang-una, in-adopt na po namin ‘yung rules sa impeachment. Kapag binago namin iyon, ipa-publish pa at tatagal pa iyon,” Cayetano said.
“Ang pinag-uusapan ay rule sa Senado. Wala pong katotohanan ‘yung mga nagpo-post na nagsasabing ito po ay may kinalaman sa impeachment,” he added.
Cayetano maintained that the two issues are separate, following the tense May 26 plenary session, during which several minority senators opposed a proposal to amend Senate rules to allow remote participation in sessions.
The proposal, introduced by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, led to debate over whether it could be taken up on the Senate floor. Cayetano later moved to divide the house and settle the procedural question through a vote.
The session ended in a walkout by members of the minority bloc. Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III then moved for adjournment.
According to Cayetano, the Senate was only tackling the preliminary question of whether the proposed amendment could be discussed, not the substance of Marcoleta’s proposal.
“Let’s clarify some things sa rules mismo ng Senate. Nakalagay doon, simple: The Majority can amend. Again, i-emphasize ko ha kasi binabaliktad nang binabaliktad ng ating kaibigan na si Senator Panfilo Lacson. Sabi niya, OK lang pag-usapan ang rules, huwag lang i-railroad. Wala pong railroading. Ang sinasabi po kasi niya, nasa Committee yung rules,” Cayetano said.
“Ang plenary po ay mas powerful sa committees… So we were not violating any rule. And in fact, May 11 pa nag-start iyan i-take up… Ang totoo niyan, ilan lang kasi sila nandoon during that Tuesday night kaya ayaw pag-botohan. But the point is, we were ready to defend and talk about the proposal,” he added.
Cayetano said the controversy ultimately centers on the minority bloc’s concern over control in the Senate.
“Representation is very important because it’s all about control… I want you to understand that the rule about voting is tied to control. Thirteen ang kailangan para palitan ang Senate President, pero ang magpapatawag ng hearings ay ang chairperson,” he said.
“So, meaning, kung maibabalik sa kanila ang leadership, ise-schedule ba nila yung flood control hearing? Kontrolado din po ng Majority at ng chairman kung sino ang iimbitahin,” he added.
Cayetano also stressed the need for impartiality in the high-profile Blue Ribbon hearings on the flood control scam, which are set to resume on Thursday, June 4.